Just back from Mayer @ O2

cbellanga

And yes he's a great guitar player with lovely / catchy songs.

But I have to say that David Gilmour gig @ Royal Albert Hall and Pat Metheny @ Ronnie Scotts gigs were 1000x more interesting and inspiring! His acoustic guitar technique was nice though.

On the other hand, his stage visuals and animations were great! Probably one of the best I've seen so far!

imalrightjack

I'd not heard him until the other day when a mate, who frankly is not a great player, was noodling along playing one of his hits. I asked what it was as, even with his fumbling approach, it sounded lovely. Impressed, I listened to the song and nearly fell asleep. Totally clinical and technically impressive playing but felt by-the-numbers and too safe.

I'm not a blues fan really although listened to a double vinyl of old school BB King tonight and actually thought of Mayer, while saying, "This is what I like about blues." Raw, ballsy and still sounds fresh while sticking to conventional repeated patterns.

BRISTOL86

I thought it was awesome. But then I'm a huge fan boy. 

Also cant understand for the life of me why people hate the O2. Loads of places to eat and drink, camped up on the bar from 3pm which was a 5 minute walk from my seat. 

Sound was fantastic, view was fantastic, seat was comfy, took 60 seconds round trip from my seat to get a beer or have a piss. Blinding!

DrCornelius

Where did you sit Bristol ? We were directly in front of the stage but right at the back about 3/4 of the way up. The sound wasn't great where we were and after the first two songs I wasn't impressed. Luckily the visuals then kicked in which made it an overall enjoyable night but nowhere near my top ten and bearing in mind what it cost me it should have been !

artiebear

the boy has an immense amount of class. His detractors usually don't know what he does or have the ability to get anywhere close 

dindude

The mans got talent, I truly love a lot of his stuff, it's class, but his current album just isn't up there with what we know he's capable of.

I read a review of the new stuff which summed it up nicely for me, it went along the lines of: "his downfall seems to be simultaneously having too much, yet at the same time, a complete lack of, taste".

I agree with this, he's become so tasteful that it's become bland, yet some of those lyrics would have been rejected by teenage girls messing about in their bedroom they're so bad.

BRISTOL86

We were in Block 111 @DrCornelius - about 45 degrees to the stage. Thought the sound was great where we were.

https://i.imgur.com/Xq8QWX0.jpg

I don't go to a lot of shows and the ones I have been to in recent years were big venues so that may be a factor. 

And I completely get it about the new stuff not being great, relatively. I said myself that if it was anyone else other than Mayer I probably wouldn't even like it. 

But I only got into guitar fairly recently and it was his playing that made me think 'I want to do that' so I'll always love what he does!

RocknRollDave

Saw the setlist and feel like I saved a lot of wasted money by not going

BRISTOL86

RocknRollDave said:

Saw the setlist and feel like I saved a lot of wasted money by not going

What were you hoping for, more older stuff?

bacchanalian

Mayer has completely passed me by and the bits I have heard sounded a bit smooth and smoochy.  Could someone recommend an album where I should start?  

ToneControl

I think Mayer's problem is that he's the only songwriter
So there is the scope for more variable output
On reflection, I've bought most of his albums, and found most bland, some OK, and one excellent 

Solo writers are worth following though, before CDs or mp3s I used to have every LP by Neil Young - some were amazing, some crap. I think you get higher peaks and lower troughs with solo artists

bacchanalian

@ToneControl What was the one excellent one? 

BRISTOL86

bacchanalian said:

Mayer has completely passed me by and the bits I have heard sounded a bit smooth and smoochy.  Could someone recommend an album where I should start?  

Personally I'd watch the 'Where The Light Is' DVD/BluRay from start to finish. That's what got me. I don't think I'd have reacted the same if I'd tried to get into him by listening to his studio stuff. 

It's available on YouTube as a playlist if that's your thing

ToneControl

bacchanalian said:

@ToneControl What was the one excellent one? 

Continuum

ToneControl

BRISTOL86 said:

bacchanalian said:

Mayer has completely passed me by and the bits I have heard sounded a bit smooth and smoochy.  Could someone recommend an album where I should start?  

Personally I'd watch the 'Where The Light Is' DVD/BluRay from start to finish. That's what got me. I don't think I'd have reacted the same if I'd tried to get into him by listening to his studio stuff. 

It's available on YouTube as a playlist if that's your thing

yes, this video is the best thing to get into his stuff, worth watching more than once

he talks a load of rubbish sometimes though

stickyfiddle

Of the studio albums, Continuum is by far the best. Try is a great live album with just the trio, but Where the Light Is is a better overall performance by far.

Then the rest all have merit, but get patchier in (for me) the following order: Born & Raised, Battle Studies, Paradise Valley Room for Squares, Heavier Things and The Search for Everything. 

BRISTOL86

ToneControl said:

BRISTOL86 said:

bacchanalian said:

Mayer has completely passed me by and the bits I have heard sounded a bit smooth and smoochy.  Could someone recommend an album where I should start?  

Personally I'd watch the 'Where The Light Is' DVD/BluRay from start to finish. That's what got me. I don't think I'd have reacted the same if I'd tried to get into him by listening to his studio stuff. 

It's available on YouTube as a playlist if that's your thing

yes, this video is the best thing to get into his stuff, worth watching more than once

he talks a load of rubbish sometimes though

So true! I had to skip through the latter part of Bold as Love....

robinbowes

Remember, he's not the messiah...

He is a very talented player and songwriter who has some great songs in his back catalogue across multiple genres, but he's also got his fair share of, IMHO, weaker output. e.g. His latest album doesn't do it for me.

R.

DrCornelius

For me top 3 studio albums are (in order)

paradise valley
born and raised
continuium

the first two add a folky country feel to his sound , continuum is more straight ahead pop rock/blues imho

bacchanalian

@BRISTOL86 ;
 Thanks!! 

BRISTOL86

DrCornelius said:

For me top 3 studio albums are (in order)

paradise valley
born and raised
continuium

the first two add a folky country feel to his sound , continuum is more straight ahead pop rock/blues imho

Top man. I love PV. Was gutted he didn't do Waiting on the Day as he's done it a couple of times on this tour.